Switzerland is officially the Swiss Confederation and it was established in 1291. The Latin phrase Confoederatio Helvetica, results in its abbrevation as CH. Switzerland has a population of about 8 million. It is bordered by Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. The official languages are German, French, Italian and Romansh.
Switzerland is well known for its neutral stance on politics since 1815 and more notably for its ability to remain neutral throughout World War II.
The capital is Bern and the two most prominent cities are Zurich and Geneva.
Geneva is the home of the second largest office of the United Nations.
Switzerland is the origin of the Red Cross, which carries the same logo as the Swiss flag. One of the main attractions in Switzerland is the Alps. Interlaken and Zermatt are the two main locations to ascend into the Alps by cog trains, funiculars and cable cars.
Switzerland is also known internationally for high end banking, chocolate, Swiss Army Knives and, in days gone by, for its watches.
There is an excellent train system. Tourists will find that Switzerland’s high standard of living
makes it one of the most expensive locations to visit in Europe.
